Uzbekistan: country profile

The republic of Uzbekistan is the only double landlocked country in Central Asia and one of only two such countries worldwide. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south. Before 1991, it was part of the Soviet Union. Most of Uzbekistan territory of 447,400 square kilometres lies between the two major rivers of Central Asia, the Syr Darya (Jaxartes) and the Amu Darya (Oxus). The highest point in Uzbekistan is the Khazret Sultan (4643 m), in the southern part of the Gissar Range in Surkhandarya Province, on the border with Tajikistan, just northwest of Dushanbe.

Grotere kaart weergeven

Once part of the Persian Samanid and later Timurid empires, the region was conquered in the early 16th century by nomads who spoke an Eastern Turkic language. Most of Uzbekistan’s population today belong to the Uzbek ethnic group and speak the Uzbek language. Uzbekistan was incorporated into the Russian Empire in the 19th century, and in 1924 became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, known as the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (Uzbek SSR). It became independent on 31 August 1991.

The country is one of the world's biggest producers of cotton and is rich in natural resources, including oil, gas and gold. However, economic reform has been slow and poverty and unemployment are widespread.

Following the 11 September attacks on the US, Uzbekistan won favour with Washington by allowing its forces a base in Uzbekistan, affording ready access across the Afghan border.

Human rights groups accused the international community of ignoring the many reported cases of abuse and torture.

Climate

The climate of Uzbekistan is extremely continental with a great number of sunny days. The average monthly temperature in January ranges from -10°C to 3°C. Summers are hot and dry (35°C-45°C) with the so called Chillya, from 25 June until 5 August, the hotest period.

Uzbekistan currency

All payments are made in 'Sum', the national currency of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

1 EUR = 2698 SUM